Lung-targeting nanobodies against pulmonary surfactant protein A and their preparation

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical and medical technologies, and more particularly to novel nanobodies against pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) and their preparation methods. The nanobodies of the present invention comprises an amino acid sequence having certain formula. The present invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding the nanobodies, their preparation method and their applications. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo imaging show that the nanobodies of the present inventions have high lung-targeting specificity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of Chinese PatentApplication No. 201310134673.1, entitled “Lung-Targeting Nanobodiesagainst Pulmonary Surfactant Protein A and Their Preparation,” filed onApr. 17, 2013. The entire disclosures of each of the above applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has beensubmitted in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Aug. 30, 2013, is named35JK-178791_SL.txt and is 115,422 bytes in size.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of biochemistry andpharmaceutical technologies, particularly to nanobodies that bind topulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) with specificity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the beginning of 20th century, the Nobel Prize-winning Germanscientist Paul Ehrlich proposed the idea of “magic bullet” for futuredrug development, i.e., an ideal drug that would selectively destroydiseased cells without affecting healthy cells. In the past severaldecades, scientists have been exploring to develop such ideal drugs.

In the 1970s, targeted drug delivery system was developed and widelyused for the treatment of cancer. It was reported that targetedanti-cancer drugs accounted for more than 30% of the world's anti-cancerdrug sales, and that this figure is forecasted to rise to 55% in 2025.Meanwhile, with the advancement in research, new targeted drug deliverycarriers has emerged, the routes of administration has been broadened,and targeted drug delivery system has been expanded to treat manydiseases other than cancer.

Developing targeted drugs for respiratory diseases is one of thehotspots of the research, which is primarily focused on the followingareas:

1. Targeted treatment of airways diseases by inhalation. Starting fromthe earlier 1950s, inhaled corticosteroids have been used for thetreatment of asthma and COPD. Since then, with improvement in inhaleddrugs and devices, inhaled corticosteroids have become the maintherapeutic agents for the treatment of asthma and COPD. However,inhaled drugs are mainly suitable for topical treatment of airwaysdiseases, and are not effective against parenchyma and interstitial lungdiseases due to low bioavailability.

2. Passive lung-targeting drugs through drug carriers. Currently, avariety of drug carriers such as liposomes, microparticles, microsphereshave been researched for lung-targeted drug delivery. However, thesepassive targeting drugs have poor tissue selectivity, and cannot avoidsignificant residue in the liver, spleen and other organs. Therefore,they don't achieve optimal targeting effect.

The ligand-receptor or antigen-antibody binding is a special recognitionmechanism of the human body, and as reported in the literature, thismechanism can achieve active drug targeting to enhance drug efficacy andreduce the side effects. For example, a composite drug made ofpaclitaxel liposome and a monoclonal antibody against the epidermalgrowth factor has anti-tumor effect that is 25 times greater that of thedrug without the monoclonal antibody. Thus, to achieve ideal active lungtargeting effect, it is critical to find a receptor in the lung tissuewith high specificity and prepare a targeting ligand with high affinity.Studies have shown that pulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells inthe lung tissue have proliferation and secretion functions, and accountfor 16% of the total cells in lung parenchyma. Type II cells cansynthesize and secrete pulmonary surfactant. The main components of thepulmonary surfactant are lipids (90%) and proteins (10%), and theproteins are specific pulmonary surfactant proteins (SP). SP has beennamed as SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D, SP-A based on the order it wasdiscovered, and SP-A was discovered first, and has strong expression inpulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells with abundant signals, andis rarely expressed in other tissues. Thus, SP-A is highlylung-specific, and is an ideal receptor in the lung tissue withspecificity.

In addition to high affinity, an ideal targeting ligand should also havea small molecular weight, high tissue penetration, and weakimmunogenicity. Antigen-antibody binding is the strongest recognitionmechanism, and therefore antibody is the preferred ligand. However,although of high affinity, full antibodies have large molecular weight(with a relative molecular weight of 150,000), weak tissue penetrationand strong immunogenicity, and are not ideal ligands. With thedevelopment of antibody and gene engineering technologies, antibodyfragments (Fab, ScFv) now have the advantages of small molecular weightand weak immunogenicity, but they has lower stability and affinity thanfull antibodies.

In 1993, scientists from Belgian first reported the existence of HeavyChain antibody (HCAbs) without the light chain in the blood of camelids.The variable domain (VHH) of the heavy chains of HCAbs has a completeand independent antigen-binding capacity, and if cloned, a single domainantibodies in the nanometer scale can be obtained, which are known asNanobodies® (Nbs). Nanobody has many advantages as a ligand: 1) smallmolecular weight, strong tissue penetration, and high affinity. It hasthe least molecular weight among the known antibody molecules, with amolecular weight of only 15,000; its ability to penetrate tissues issignificantly superior to full antibody, and its affinity with specificantigen is of nmol scale. 2) Stable structure. It can maintain highdegree of stability even if stored at 37° C. for a week, under hightemperature (90° C.), or under strong denaturing conditions such asbeing exposed to chaotropic agent, protease and strong PH value. 3) Weakimmunogenicity. AS its gene has high homology with human VH III family,it has weak immunogenicity and good biocompatibility. Because of theseadvantages, nanobody has been studied extensively as a new antibodydrug, but its use as targeted ligand for SP-A has not been reported.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides lung-targeting nanobodies and theirapplications.

SP-A was the first discovered pulmonary surfactant protein, has strongexpression in pulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells with abundantsignals, and is rarely expressed in other tissues. SP-A is highlylung-specific, and is an ideal lung-specific receptor. In accordancewith embodiments of the present invention, alpacas was immunized withSP-A, an antibody library was built, affinity selection was employed toscreen and identify genes with lung-targeting specificity, and SP-Ananobodies with high affinity was obtained by prokaryotic expression. Invivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to verify that the nanobodyhas high specificity for targeting lung tissue.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, alung-targeting nanobody, called SPA-Nb, is provided. The nanobodycomprises an amino acid sequence having the formula of Q(x)₂LVESGG(x)₂V(x)₂G(x) SL(x) LS(x)₂₄E (x)_(n2)KG(x)₄S(x)_(n3)T(x)₂Y(x)C(x)_(n4)S(x)_(n5)V(x)_(n6)R; wherein x is any amino acid; 1≦n2≦21;1≦n3≦19; 1≦n4≦50; 1≦n5≦22; 1≦n6≦8.

Preferably, 17≦n2≦21; 18≦n3≦19; 16≦n4≦5 0; 17≦n5≦22; 7≦n6≦8.

For example, the nanobody comprises an amino acid sequence of MQAQLAGQLQLVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV xSGTISxYGM GWxRQAPGKG RExVSTIxSx GxTxxxxYYADSVKGRFTIS RDNAKNTLYL QMNSLKPEDT AxYYCxLxGx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxHRGQGxxxxxx xxxTQVTVSS xxEPKTPKPQ GPRGLAAAGA PVPYPDPLEP RAA (SEQ ID NO69), wherein x is any amino acid.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, thenanobody comprise an amino acid sequence having the formula of Q(X₁)LVESGG(X₂)V(X₃)G (X₄)SL(X₅) LS(X₆) E (X₇) KG(X₈) S(X₉) T(X₁₀) Y(X₁₁)C(X₁₂) S(X₁₃) V(X₁₄)R, wherein

X₁ is selected from a group consisting of LQ and VK;

X₂ is selected from a group consisting of GS, GL, GR, GM, RL and GT;

X₃ is selected from a group consisting of is QA, QP, QI, AP and EV;

X₄ is selected from a group consisting of R, G and E;

X₅ is selected from a group consisting of K, N, R, M and T;

X₆ is selected from a group consisting of CTASGSDYRWMYIARFRQCPGKER,CAASGRAFSVYAVGWYRQIPGNQR, CTASETTFEIYPMAWYRQAPGKQR,CAASGSDFSIYHMGWYRQAPGKQR, CAASGDIFTLASMGWYREDLHKKR,CEASGFTFDDYAIGWFRQAPGKER, CVALGFTLDGYAIGWFRQAPGKER,CTASKFHLDSYAVAWFRQTPGKER, CVVSGVTISNYGMTWVRQAPGKGL,CVVSGVTFNNYGMTWVRQAPGKGL, CVTSGFTFSRHDMSWVRQAPGKGP,CAASGFIFSRYDMGWVRQTPGKGR, CAASGIILNFYGMGWDRQTPGQGL,CTASEFTLDYHSIGWFRQAPGKER, CAASGRAFSVYAVGWYRQPPGKQR,CEVSGSRGSIYFSGWYRQAPGKQR, CVASGSMFNFYGMAWYRQAPGKQR andRTFSGLYLHSSAFGWFPHVPREAR;

X₇ is selected from a group consisting of GVAAIYTDDTDDSSPIYATSA,MVAAISSGGNTKYSDSV, LVAGINMISSTKYIDSV, LVAAITSGGSTNYADSV,LVAQLMSDGTANYGDSV, EVSCISHNGGTTNYADSV, KISCISSTGDSTNYDDSV,AVSFINTSDDVTYFADSV, WISTIYSNGHTYSADSV, WISSIYSNGHTYSADSV,WISGIGTSGTSGRYASSV, WVSGINSGGGRTYYADSV, GVSYVNNNGMTNYADSV,GVSCISYGDGTTFYTDSV, LVASITDGGSTNYADSV, LVASITSGGTTNYADSV,LVASIDSEGRTTNYPDSL and GVAFLCNSGSDPIYLHPE;

X₈ is selected from a group consisting of RFTI, RVTI, RFSI, RFTA, RFTVand IFTL,

X₉ is selected from a group consisting of QDKDKNAVYLQMNSPKPED,RDNDKNTMYLQMNSLKPED, SDNAKNTVYLQMNSLKPED, RDDVDTTVHLRMNTLQPSD,RDNAKNTVYLQMNGLKPED, RDTAKSTVFLQMNNLIPED, RDNSKNTVYLQMNVLKPED,RDNANNTLYLQMNSLKPED, RDNAKNTLYLQMISLKPED, RDNAKDTLYLQMDSLKPED,RDDDKATLYLSMDGLKPED, RDNAKNTMYLQMNSLKPED, RDNAKNTVTLQMNSLKPED,RDNARNTAYLDMNSLKVED, RDNAKNTVYLQMNSLKPED, RDDAKSTAYLQMNNLIPDD,RHCVKTVSPFEDNDTVEH, RDNAKNTLYLQMNSLKPED and NULL;

X₁₀ is selected from a group consisting of PT, AV, AD, AL, GL, AK, AN,AI, SV, GE, AM and NULL;

X₁₁ is any amino acid or NULL;

X₁₂ is selected from a group consisting ofAARAFGGTWSLSSPDDFSAWGQGTQVTVS, NLDTTMVEGVEYWGQGTQVTVS,NADGVPEYSDYASGPVYWGQGTQVTVS, YIHTSREITWGRGTQVTVSQGESSAPQSSAPQATVS,AGARSGLCVFFELQDYDYWGQGTQVTVS, GADLLARCGRVWYFPPDLNYRGQGTQVTVS,AAVRSPGPTGPSMQPMWSVPDLYDYWGQGTQVTVS, KLTGETHRGQGTQVTVS,KLVGETHRGQGTQVTVS, RLTGETYRGQGTQVTVS, TTGGVYSAYVQPRGKGTQVTVS,VRFTVKTPQGYYYLNDFDYWGQGTQVTVS, NVSAYTYRSNYYYPWGQANHVTVS,AASPGRLLLFRLCMSEDEYDFWGQGTQVTVS, NANYGGSVLYNYWGPGTQVTVS,NIGRYGLGGSWGQGTQVTVS, NAFRGRMYDYWGQGTQVTVS,PTHLVITHPCICIPSAMDYRGKGTLVPLS and NULL;

X₁₃ is selected from a group consisting of STNEVCKWPPRPCGRRCAGA,SHHSEDPGPRGLAAAGAP, SEPKTPKPQGPRGLAAAGAP, TEPKTPKPQGPRGLAAAGAP,SKPTTPKPRAPKALRPQ, SAHHSEDPGPRGLAAAGAP and SQRKTRKAQGRARLADAGAP;

X₁₄ is selected from a group consisting of PYPDPLEP, SGSAGTAC, PHADQMEQand PRCRIRF.

NULL means there is no amino acid at this position.

Preferably, X₁₁ is selected from a group consisting of Q, Y, H, V and F.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, thenanobody comprises an amino acid sequence comprising any of SEQ ID NOs37 to 67.

The present invention also provides nucleic acids encoding thelung-targeting nanobody.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the nucleicacid comprise a polynucleotide sequence comprising any of SEQ ID NOs 1to 36.

The nanobody of the present invention can be used as lung-targetingligand specifically targeting pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A).

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodof preparing the nanobody is provided; the method comprises the stepsof:

(a) immunizing an alpacas using pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A);

(b) selecting and obtaining gene sequences with a high affinity withSP-A; and

(c) inducing the expression of the obtained gene sequences.

Preferably, the step (b) comprises affinity selection.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, high puritypulmonary surfactant protein A (rSP-A) was prepared using gene synthesisand prokaryotic expression, and used to immunize alpaca; an alpacaantibody library was built by the isolation of peripheral bloodlymphocytes, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and gene amplification; thelibrary had a capacity of 31 5.7×106 cfu. Through affinity selection andindirect phage ELISA, 31 clones with high affinity with rSP-A werefinally obtained. Sequencing analysis showed they were all VHH sequences(nanobody sequences).

Nb6 and Nb17 had the highest affinity, and were selected as thepreferred embodiments for prokaryotic expression to obtain nanobodieswith a molecular weight of about 170,000 and a size of nanometer scale.In in vitro Western Blot and ELISA experiments, Nb6 and Nb17 showed goodaffinity with rSP-A, immunohistochemistry and in vivo imaging resultsshowed that had lung-targeting specificity as they can bind to naturalSP-A in the lung tissue.

In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, syntheticmethod was used to obtain the polypeptide of the nanobody.

To further optimize the nanobody of the present invention, the activeregion of the polypeptide sequences of the selected clones were tested.Testing results showed that the functional polypeptides of Nb6 and Nb17(without the MQAQKAG part) have good lung-targeting specificity.

To further verify that the 31 nanobody sequences all have lung-targetingaffinity with rat pulmonary surfactant protein A, respectively, 21clones (excluding those with the same sequence with Nb17) were expressedand purified, all proteins were obtained through soluble expression,with Nb1 had the least expression level of 3 mg/L, while the rest had anaverage protein expression level of 8 mg/L.

In Western blot and ELISA analysis, all 21 expressed proteins had clearaffinity, where 7 nanobodies, namely Nb9, Nb11, Nb18, Nb19, Nb36, Nb32,and Nb48 had OD450 values 5 times greater than the negative controlgroup.

Immunohistochemical staining also showed that these clones had strongaffinity. All clones showed significant differences with the negativecontrol group.

In vivo testing showed that 7 nanobodies, namely Nb9, NB11, NB18, NB19,Nb36, NB32, and Nb48 had targeting effect similar to that of Nb17;though their clustering levels vary, all the images showed significantclustering in the lung.

Similarly, functional polypeptides were synthesized using Nb18 and Nb36as representative examples (Nb36 was without the MQAQLAV at the N-end,NB18 was without MQAQKAG at the N-end). Western blot andimmunohistochemical showed that affinity was not affected.

The present invention provides a nanobody (SPA-Nb) against rat pulmonarysurfactant protein A (SP-A). Tests showed that the SPA-Nb of the presentinvention had high lung-targeting specificity.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the SPA-Nbcoding sequence refers to the nucleotide sequence of the SPA-Nbpolypeptide, such as the sequences from SEQ ID NO 37 to SEQ ID NO 67 andits degenerate sequence. The degenerate sequence refers to sequencesfrom SEQ ID NO 37 to SEQ ID No. 67 wherein one or more codons weresubstituted.

The SPA-Nb coding sequences also include variants of SEQ ID NO 37 to SEQID No. 67 that encoding proteins with the same functions as SPA-Nb. Suchvariants include (but are not limited to): the deletion, insertion orsubstitution of a plurality (usually 1-90, preferably 1-60, morepreferably 1-20, most preferably 1-10) of nucleotides, and the adding atthe 5′ and/or 3′ end of a plurality of (typically less than 60,preferably less than 30, more preferably less than 10, the top for 5 orless) nucleotides.

Once the SPA-Nb coding sequence is obtained, large quantities of therecombinant sequences can be obtained. This is usually done by cloningthe sequence into a vector, and transferred to the cells, then usingconventional methods to isolate the sequences from the proliferated hostcell.

In addition, the sequences can also be obtained by synthetic methods, asthe length of the inhibitory factor of the nanobodies of the presentinvention is short. Typically, a number of small fragments can besynthesized first, and a long fragment can be formed by linking thesmall fragments.

In accordance with the present invention, various forms of vectors knownin the art, such as those that are commercially available, can be used.For example, using a commercially available vector, the nucleotidesequence encoding the polypeptide of the invention can be operablylinked to expression control sequence to form a protein expressionvector.

As used herein, the term “operably linked” means the situation wherepart of the DNA sequence can affect the activity of other part of theDNA sequence. For example, DNA for a presequence or secretory leader isoperably linked to DNA for a polypeptide if it is expressed as apreprotein that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; apromoter or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if itaffects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site isoperably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as tofacilitate translation. Generally, “operably linked” means that the DNAsequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a secretoryleader, contiguous and in reading phase.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the term “hostcell” includes prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. Examples ofcommonly used prokaryotic host cells include Escherichia coli, Bacillussubtilis, etc. Commonly used eukaryotic host cells include yeast cells,insect cells, and mammalian cells. Preferably, the host cell is aeukaryotic cells, such as CHO cells, COS cells and the like.

The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by varioustechniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, purifiedSP-A, or its antigenic fragments can be administrated to animals toinduce the production of antibodies. Similarly, cells expressing SP-A orits antigenic fragments can be used to immunize animals to produceantibodies. Antibodies in the invention can be produced by routineimmunology techniques and using fragments or functional regions of SP-Agene product. These fragments and functional regions can be prepared byrecombinant methods or synthesized by a polypeptide synthesizer.Antibodies binding to unmodified L SP-A gene product can be produced byimmunizing animals with gene products produced by prokaryotic cells(e.g., E. coli); antibodies binding to post-translationally modifiedforms thereof can be acquired by immunizing animals with gene productsproduced by eukaryotic cells (e.g., yeast or insect cells).

The invention also relates to nucleotide sequences or nucleic acids thatencode amino acid sequences, fusion proteins and constructs describedherein. The invention further includes genetic constructs that includethe foregoing nucleotide sequences or nucleic acids and one or moreelements for genetic constructs known per se. The genetic construct maybe in the form of a plasmid or vector.

The invention also relates to hosts or host cells that contain suchnucleotide sequences or nucleic acids, and/or that express (or arecapable of expressing), the amino acid sequences, fusion proteins andconstructs described herein.

The invention also relates to a method for preparing an amino acidsequence, fusion protein or construct as described herein, which methodcomprises cultivating or maintaining a host cell as described hereinunder conditions such that said host cell produces or expresses an aminoacid sequence, fusion protein or construct as described herein, andoptionally further comprises isolating the amino acid sequence, fusionprotein or construct so produced.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition thatcomprises at least one amino acid sequence, fusion protein or constructas described herein, and optionally at least one pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.

Thus, in another aspect, the invention relates to a method for theprevention and/or treatment of lung disease or disorder that can beprevented or treated by the use of a fusion protein or construct asdescribed herein, which method comprises administering, to a subject inneed thereof, a pharmaceutically active amount of a fusion protein orconstruct of the invention, and/or of a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the same. The diseases and disorders that can be prevented ortreated by the use of a fusion protein or construct as described hereinwill generally be the same as the diseases and disorders that can beprevented or treated by the use of the therapeutic moiety that ispresent in the fusion protein or construct of the invention.

The present invention provides nanobodies that bind to pulmonarysurfactant protein A (SP-A) with specificity. In accordance withembodiments of the present invention, alpacas was immunized with SP-A,gene sequences with high affinity with rSP-A were obtained byconstructing an alpacas antibody library and affinity selection, andnanobodies with high affinity and small molecule weight were obtained byinduced expression of the gene sequences through a prokaryoticexpression vector. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo imaging in ratshowed the nanobodies have high specificity for targeting lung tissue.By providing nanobodies with lung-targeting specificity, the presentinvention provides tools for further research on lung-targeting ligandsfor targeted drug delivery for lung diseases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA of rat pulmonarysurfactant protein A (rSP-A). 1A is SDA-PAGE for rSP-A: 1 Mark; 2,rSP-A. 1B is Western blot of rSP-A: 1, rSP-A; 2, Mark. 1C is ELISA: 1.negative protein; 2, rSP-A.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the comparison of the coding sequences ofthe clones.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the comparison of the coding sequences ofthe clones.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of SDS-PAGE of Nb6 and Nb17: M, Mark; 1, Nb6; 2,Nb17.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of Electron microscopy image of Nb17.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of Western blot, ELISA of purified SPA-Nb. 5A isWestern Blot: 1, Nb6; 2, Nb17. 5B is ELISA: 1, Nb6; 2, Nb17; 3, negativecontrol group.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of immunostaining of Nb6 and Nb17 with slicedtissues of rat lung, heart, liver, spleen, muscle.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of images of Nb17 with FITC mark in the body of miceat different times. A: 15 minutes after intravenous injection at thetail; B: 1 hour after intravenous injection at tail; C: 2 hours afterintravenous injection at tail; and D: 3 hours after intravenousinjection at tail; E: 5 hours after intravenous injection at tail; F, 15minutes after nasal inhalation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is further illustrated using the followingembodiments, but any of the embodiments or its combinations thereofshould not be construed as a limitation to the scope of the presentinvention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appendedclaims, which can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art byreference to this specification and general knowledge in the art.Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention,modifications or changes can be made to the present invention by thoseskilled in the art, and such modifications and changes are also withinthe scope of the present invention.

Example 1 The Preparation and Testing of Rat Pulmonary SurfactantProtein A (rSP-A)

1.1 the Preparation of Rat Pulmonary Surfactant Protein A (rSP-A)

The protein coding sequence (CDS) of rSP-A gene sequence (Rattusnorvegicus Sftpa, 1) was searched from the NCBI gene library. Artificialgene synthesis was performed, the sequence was tested and verified,prokaryotic expression vector was constructed, and the rSP-A wasexpressed from inclusion bodies having a molecular weight of 26,000. TherSP-A was purified by nickel affinity chromatography and dialysisrefolding, and made into dry powders by freezing. (FIG. 1A).

1.2 rSP-A Testing

1.2.1 Western Blot Testing

Purified rSP-A was isolated by SDS-PAGE and transferred ontonitrocellulose membrane. It was sealed in 5 g/L skim milk and incubatedfor 2 hours, then immune serum containing rabbit polyclonal antibodyagainst rSP-A (at room temperature for 2 hours, and washed 3 times withPBS) and serum containing goat anti-rabbit IgG-HRP (at room temperaturefor 1 hours, washed 3 times with PBS) were added sequentially. DAB wasadded last to develop the image, and photographs of the image weretaken. The photographs contain a single stripe with a molecule weight of26 Kd (FIG. 1B).

1.2.2 ELISA Test

ELISA test was performed to measure the immunological activity of thepurified protein. An ELISA plate with 96 wells were coated with purifiedrSP-A and an unrelated protein (GST), and incubated overnight at 4° C.The next day, it was sealed in 3% skim milk and incubated at 37° C. foran hour, then immune serum containing rabbit polyclonal antibody againstrSP-A (at room temperature for 2 hours, and washed 3 times with PBS) andserum containing goat anti-rabbit IgG-HRP (at room temperature for 1hours, washed 3 times with PBS) were added sequentially. DAB was addedlast to develop the image, and sulfuric acid was added to stop thereaction. The OD value of each well was measured using the chromogenicmicroplate, which showed that, compared with the control group, bothpurified rSP-A and SP-A polyclonal antibody had obvious binding activity(FIG. 1C).

1.2.3 Protein Spectrum Analysis

Spectrum analysis was performed on dry rSP-A powder obtained throughfreezing, and the results shown its sequence was the exactly the same asthe original gene sequence.

Example 2 Alpaca Immunization and Test for Immunization Effect

2.1 Alpaca Immunization

The prepared rSP-A and an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvantwere emulsified, and injected subcutaneously into an alpaca at multiplepoints of the neck and limbs. The immunization dose is 1 mg each time.Afterwards, every two weeks, the same dose was mixed with Freund'sincomplete adjuvant and injected 5 more times. 10 ml of peripheral bloodwas collected before each immunization and 14 days after theimmunization. The serum was separated for antibody titer. Also, theserum collected before the immunization was purified and isolated forthe preparation of polyclonal rabbit anti-alpaca IgG antibody.

2.2 Preparation of Polyclonal Rabbit Anti-Alpaca IgG Antibody Serum

Purified alpaca IgG was mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant, andinjected subcutaneously into New Zealand white rabbits at multiplepoints of the back. The immunization dose is 200 μg each. Afterwards,every week, half of the original dose was mixed with Freund's incompleteadjuvant, and injected into the rabbits four more times. The peripheralblood was collected 14 days after the end immunization. The serum wasseparated, and HRP marking was performed. The serum was stored at 50° C.

2.3 Testing of rSP-A Antibody Level in Alpaca Serum

ELISA was used to test the change of in goat anti-alpaca rSPA antibodylevel in the prepared rabbit anti-alpaca serum. The results showed thatthe antibody titer after 4 immunizations was maintained at 1:10,000.

Example 3 Construction and Verification of Alpaca Antibody Library

3.1 Total RNA Extraction from Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and cDNASynthesis

200 ml alpaca peripheral blood was collected 14 days after theimmunization, lymphocytes were separated and the total RNA was extractedusing the single-step method with Trizol Reagent. Measured by theNanodrop Spectrophotometer, its concentration was 1205 ng/ul, andOD260/OD280 is 1.82. Three stripes were visible through 1% agarose gelelectrophoresis at 28S, 18S and 5S RNA respectively, wherein the 28S RNAstripe was brighter than the 18S RNA stripe, which meant that the totalRNA was fairly complete, and suitable for cDNA synthesis.

3.2 VHH Gene Amplification and Restriction Digestion

3.2.1 Design of Primer for Gene Amplification and AmplificationProcedure

cDNA product was used as the template, and VHH-LD primer and CH2-R wereused for the first PCR amplification. All the reagents were 50 ul. ThePCR product of VHH gene fragments was tested with a 1.5% agarose gelelectrophoresis, and cut out of the gel under ultraviolet light. Theextracted fragments were purified by gel extraction kit, and theresulted purified fragments were then used as the template for thesecond PCR reaction. Two sets of primers were used for PCR amplificationof two heavy chain antibody VHH gene fragments. The primers weredesigned as follows:

Primer Seqence Listing VHH-LD CTTGGTGGTCCTGGCTGC (SEQ ID NO 1) CH2-RGGTACGTGCTGTTGAACTGTTCC (SEQ ID NO 2) ALP-Vh-CCGTGGCCAAGCTGGCCGKTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTC SfiI: NGGNGG(mixed primers: K: G or T; N: A, T, G, C) (SEQ ID NO 3) VHHR1-CCGTGGCCTCGGGGGCCGGGGTCTTCGCTGTGGTGCG SfiI (SEQ ID NO 4) VHHR2-CCGTGGCCTCGGGGGCCTTGTGGTTTTGGTGTCTTGGG SfiI (SEQ ID NO 5)

3.3 Restriction Digestion of PCR Product and Construction of VHHAntibody Library

3.3.1 Restriction Digestion of PCR Products and Phagemid pCANTAB 5ECarrier

The above PCR products and phagemid pCANTAB 5E carrier were digested bySfi I restriction enzyme.

3.3.2 Ligation of Phagemid Vector pCANTAB 5e and VHH Gene

After digestion by Sfi I restriction enzyme, the phagemid pCANTAB 5Evector and gene fragment were purified and quantified, and ligationreaction was performed at a mass ratio of 1:3 in water at 16° C. for 14hours.

3.3.3 Construction of VHH Antibody Library

The ligation product was transformed into E. coli TG1, and 1 ul oftransformed solution was plated. 280 positive growing clones wereobtained the following day. 20 clones were randomly chosen for bacillipropagation and sequencing. The results showed that 19 clones containedthe construct sequence, and most of the sequences were different. It canbe determined that VHH recombinant fragment insertion rate was about95%. The antibody library has good diversity. It was calculated the VHHantibody library's capacity was approximately 2.66×105 cfu.

3.3.4 Propagation of M13KO7 Helper Phage Propagation and TiterMeasurement

M13KO7 helper phage was inoculated in 2YT solid medium. Well separatedplaques were chosen for propagation. Phage solution was diluted in 1:10,1:100, 1:1000 and so on, and titer measurements were taken.

The phage titer was calculated as 3.8×1015 pfu, using the number ofplaques times dilution factor times 10.

3.3.5 the Expression and Isolation of VHH Phage Antibody Library

The VHH antibody library constructed with M13KO7 helper phage with atiter measurement of 1015 pfu was used to obtain the VHH phage librarythrough precipitation with 20% PEG8000-NaCl, settlement with sterile PBSsuspension, and separation of the recombinant phage particles. Thecapacity of the VHH phage library was measured, and the VHH phagelibrary had a titer of 3.5×1012.

Example 4 Screening of rSPA-Specific Nanobody (rSPA-Nb)

Affinity selection technique was employed to screen the VHH antibodylibrary with rSP-A.

4.1 Simplified Procedure of Affinity Selection:

(1) The immunization tubes were coated with rSP-A, and incubated at 4°C. overnight.

(2) The tubes were washed 3 times using PBS, and dried by shaking

(3) The tubes were blocked using 3% MPBS (3% skim milk added to PBS) andincubated for 2 hours at 37° C. The blocking solution was poured, andthe tubes were washed 3 times using PBS, and dried by shaking.

(4) 2 mL of the prepared phage library was added to each immunizationtubes, and incubated for 30 minutes with gentle shake, and incubated for1.5 hours without shaking

(5) The phage library in the tubes was disposed, and the tubes werewashed three times with PBS, and dried by shaking

(6) The host strain TG1 was added to wash away the bound phage library.This completed the first round of selection, and the first antibodylibrary was obtained. The output of the antibody library was calculated.

(7) The selection steps were repeated for 3 times to obtain the thirdantibody library.

4.2 Preliminary Selection of Positive Nanobodies Using Indirect PhageELISA.

(1) Single clones obtained from the three rounds of selections and grownon 2YTAG plates were inoculated into the 72-well culture plate at 30°C., and cultured with shaking overnight.

(2) 400 ul of M13K07 helper phage was put in each well of another72-well culture plate (labeled P1 Plate) the next day.

(3) 40 ul of cultured medium were taken from each well of the MasterPlate, which was cultured overnight, and put in each well of the P1Plate, and incubated at 37° C. with shaking overnight. The culturesupernatant was prepared by centrifugation at 1500 g for 20 minutes setaside, and the recombinant antibody was obtained.(4) A 96-well microtiter plate was coated with rSP-A.(5) 160 ul of recombinant antibody was mixed with 40 μL of MPBS,incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature. It was then added toblocked microtiter wells and reacted for 2 hours at 37° C.(6) Washing and adding HRP secondary antibody: HRP-labeled antibodyagainst M13K07 was diluted 1:4000 in PBS, 200 ul of that was added toeach well, and incubated and reacted for 1 hour at 37° C.(7) 200 ul TMB substrate solution was added to each well, incubated at37° C. for about 45 minutes to develop the image, 100 ul of stopsolution was added to each well to stop the development process, andmeasurements were taken at 450 nm. Preliminary screening was conductedto select positive clones binding to rSP-A with specificity. If a clonehas affinity value greater than 3 times the affinity value for thenegative control great, then it is considered to be a positive clone.

Preliminary screening by indirect Phage ELISA showed that 31 sequenceshad affinity value greater three times the affinity value for thenegative control group, and these 31 sequences were positive clones.

Example 5 Expression and Purification of rSPA-Nb with Specificity

5.1 Construction of rSPA-Nb Prokaryotic Expression Vector

The 31 clones selected by Phage ELISA were sent for sequencing (FIGS. 2Aand 2B). No. 6 (Nb6), which had a low affinity value, and 17 (Nb17),which had a high affinity were PCR amplified using clone plasmidcarrying BamH I and Xho I restriction sites. After the restrictiondigest, it was cloned to PET-30a plasmid, and sent for sequencing.

5.2 Expression and Purification of Nanobodies

Recombinant plasmid with correct sequence was transformed into E. coliBL21 (DE3), the expression conditions were optimized, and proteinexpression was induced at 25° C., 0.8 mmol/L IPTG. The expressed productwas purified with nickel affinity chromatography and Superdex 75columns. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that the expressed nanobody hada molecular weight of 17 kDa (FIG. 3). As measured by BCA, the purifiedproteins had concentration levels of 10 mg/L and 12 mg/L, respectively.Observed under the electron microscope, the size of the antibodies wasin the nanometer scale. (FIG. 4).

The 31 clones obtained by the present invention are effectivelung-targeting ligands as their nucleotide sequences and amino acidsequences specifically bind to SP-A, which are listed below:

1) Nucleotide Sequence Listing:

N0. 1, Nb1  (SEQ ID NO 6)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCCGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAAACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCAGAAACCACGTTCGAGATCTATCCCATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAAGCAGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCGGGCATTAATATGATCAGTAGTACAAAGTATATAGACTCTGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGACAAGAACACGATGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGATACGGCCGTCTATTACTGTAATTTAGACACCACAATGGTGGAAGGTGTCGAGTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCCGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 2, Nb2  (SEQ ID NO 7)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCAGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGAGCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTCTGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGGTGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 3, Nb3  (SEQ ID NO 8)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCAGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCTTCAATAATTATGGTATGAGCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAAGTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTCTGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAACAACACCCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAACTATTATTGTAAATTGGTGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAAGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAACACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATATACTGTTGAAAGTTGTTTAGCATAACCTCATACAGAAAATTCA TTTACTAGN0. 4, Nb4  (SEQ ID NO 9)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCAGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGAGCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTCTGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGGTGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 6, Nb6  (SEQ ID NO 10)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGAGGGAGGCCTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCCGAGATCACTTTGGATTATTATGTCATAGGCTGGTTCCGCCAGGCCCCAGGGAAGGAGCGTGAGCGCCTCTCATGTATTAGTAACAATGATGATAATGGCCACATTGAGCCTTCCGTCAAGGGCCGATTCGCTATTTCCAGAGACAGCGCCAAGAACACGCTGTGTCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGTGTATTACTGTGATTTTTGGCGTGCTATCTATAATGGGACCATATCTACTGGGGCCAGGGGAGCCAGGTCACCAGCTCCTCAGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 7, Nb7  (SEQ ID NO 11)ATGTTCTTTCTATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAATGGATCTCAACTGTTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 8, N0. 8  (SEQ ID NO 12)ATGCAGGCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGATGCTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCGCCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACC GCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 9, Nb9  (SEQ ID NO 13)ATGTCCTTTCATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCTGAATTCACTTTGGATTACCATTCCATAGGCTGGTTCCGCCAGGCCCCAGGGAAGGAGCGTGAGGGGGTCTCATGTATTAGTTATGGTGATGGTACCACATTTTATACAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGGTGACTCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACAGCCGTTTATTACTGTGCAGCATCACCCGGTCGATTACTATTGTTCAGGCTATGTATGTCCGAGGATGAATATGACTTTTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCG CGTGCCGCATAGN0. 11, Nb11  (SEQ ID NO 14)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCCGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCTTCAATAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTTCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGTTGTATCTGCAAATGATCAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAGATTGACGGGAGAGACCTACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACGAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATATACTGTTGAAAGTTGTTTAGCAAAACCTCATACAGAAAATTCA TTTACTAGN0. 12, Nb12  (SEQ ID NO 15)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGATGCTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCGCCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 13, Nb13  (SEQ ID NO 16)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGAATCATCTTGAATTTCTATGGGATGGGCTGGGACCGCCAGACTCCAGGCCAGGGGCTCGAGGGGGTCTCATATGTTAATAATAATGGTATGACAAACTATGCAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACAATGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGACTATTACTGTAATGTGAGTGCATACACCTATAGGAGTAATTACTACTACCCCTGGGGCCAGGCAAACCACGTCACAGTCTCATCACAACGCAAGACACGAAAAGCACAAGGACGCGCACGCCTTGCGGACGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGCATGCCGATCAGATGGAACAACGTGCCTCATAAACTGTTGAAAGTTGTTTATCAAATCCTCATATATAAAATTAATATACAAATTTCTATAAATACGATAAATCTTAA GATCGTTAGN0. 16, Nb16  (SEQ ID NO 17)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAATGGATCTCAACTGTTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 17, Nb17  (SEQ ID NO 18)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCAGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGAGCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTCTGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGGTGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 18, Nb18  (SEQ ID NO 19)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGATGCTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCGCCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 19, Nb19  (SEQ ID NO 20)ATGTATTAGTTATGGTGATGGTACCACATTTTATACAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGGTGACTCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACAGCCGTTTATTACTGTGCAGCATCACCCGGTCGATTACTATTGTTCAGGCTATGTATGTCCGAGGATGAATATGACTTTTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCAT AG N0. 20, Nb20 (SEQ ID NO 21) ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGATGCTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAGTGGATCTCAACTATTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCGCCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 22, Nb22  (SEQ ID NO 22)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCCGGAAGAGCCTTCAGTGTGTATGCCGTGGGCTGGTATCGCCAGCCTCCAGGGAAGCAGCGCGAGCTGGTCGCGAGTATCACTGATGGTGGAAGCACAAACTATGCAGACTCGGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCGTCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAGAAATACGGCGTACCTGGATATGAACAGCCTGAAAGTTGAGGACACGGCCGTCTATTACTGTAATGCAAATTATGGGGGTAGTGTCCTATACAACTACTGGGGCCCGGGAACCCAAGTCACCGTCTCCACAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 25, Nb25  (SEQ ID NO 23)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAACCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGTCTCTGGAGTCACCATCAGTAATTATGGTATGACCTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCGGGAAAGGGGCTCGAATGGATCTCAACTGTTTATAGTAATGGTCACACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGCTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCAAGTATTATTGTAAATTGACGGGAGAGACCCACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAAC CGCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 27, Nb27  (SEQ ID NO 24)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCAGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGAAGTCTCTGGAAGCAGAGGCAGTATCTATTTCTCGGGCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAAGCAGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCAAGTATTACTAGTGGTGGTACTACAAATTATGCAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGGTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGTCTATTACTGTAATATAGGTCGATACGGATTGGGCGGGTCCTGGGGTCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 28, Nb28  (SEQ ID NO 25)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCCGGTGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGAAGCCTCTGGCTTCACTTTCGACGATTATGCCATAGGCTGGTTCCGCCAGGCCCCAGGGAAGGAGCGTGAGGAGGTCTCATGTATTAGTCATAATGGAGGTACCACAAACTATGCAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCTCCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACACGGTGTATCTGCAAATGAACGGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACAGCCAACTATTACTGTGCAGGCGCGCGTTCCGGACTATGTGTGTTTTTTGAGTTGCAAGATTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 29, Nb29 (SEQ ID NO 26) ATGCAGGCCCAGCCGGCCGTCCTGGCTGCTCTTCTACAAGGTGTCCAGGCTCAGGTGAAGCTGGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTCGGTGCAGGCTGGAGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCTGGATCAGACTACAGATGGATGTACATCGCCCGGTTTCGCCAATGTCCAGGGAAGGAGCGCGAGGGGGTCGCAGCAATTTATACTGATGATACTGATGATAGTAGTCCGATCTATGCCACCTCCGCCAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCCAAGACAAGGACAAGAACGCGGTATATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCCGAAACCTGAGGACACTGCCATGTACTACTGTGCGGCAAGAGCGTTCGGTGGTACCTGGAGCTTGAGCTCCCCGGACGACTTTAGTGCCTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGGAACGAATGAAGTATGCAAGTGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 32, Nb32  (SEQ ID NO 27)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCTAAATTCCATTTGGATTCTTATGCCGTAGCCTGGTTCCGCCAGACCCCAGGGAAGGAGCGTGAGGCGGTCTCATTTATAAATACTAGTGATGATGTCACATACTTTGCTGACTCCGTAAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACTCCAAGAACACGGTATATCTGCAAATGAACGTCCTGAAACCAGAAGACACTTCCGTTTATGTGTGTGCAGCGGTAAGAAGTCCCGGCCCTACCGGCCCTAGTATGCAGCCTATGTGGTCGGTGCCTGACCTGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCG CGTGCCGCATAGN0. 34, Nb34  (SEQ ID NO 28)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCCGGTGGAGGCACGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAACCTCTCCTGTGTAACTTCTGGATTCACCTTCAGTAGGCATGATATGAGTTGGGTCCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAAGGGGCCCGAGTGGATCTCAGGTATTGGTACTAGTGGTACAAGCGGACGTTATGCGAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGGATACGCTGTATCTCCAAATGGATAGCCTGAAACCTGAAGACACGGGCCTATATTACTGCACGACCGGCGGCGTTTATAGCGCCTATGTACAACCCCGGGGCAAGGGGACGCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCGGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 36, Nb36  (SEQ ID NO 29)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGTGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCCGGAAGAGCCTTCAGTGTGTATGCCGTGGGCTGGTACCGCCAGATTCCAGGGAATCAGCGCGAAATGGTCGCAGCTATTAGTAGCGGTGGTAACACAAAATACTCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGCTTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 38, Nb38 (SEQ ID NO 30) ATGCAGGCCCAGCCGGCCGTCCTGGCTGCTCTTCTACAAGGTGTCCAGGCTCAGGTGAAGCTGGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTCGGTGCAGGCTGGAGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTACAGCCTCTGGATCAGACTACAGATGGATGTACATCGCCCGGTTTCGCCAATGTCCAGGGAAGGAGCGCGAGGGGGTCGCAGCAATTTATACTGATGATACTGATGATAGTAGTCCGATCTATGCCACCTCCGCCAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCCAAGACAAGGACAAGAACGCGGTATATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCCGAAACCTGAGGACACTGCCATGTACTACTGTGCGGCAAGAGCGTTCGGTGGTACCTGGAGCTTGAGCTCCCCGGACGACTTTAGTGCCTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGGAACGAATGAAGTATGCAAGTGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 41, Nb41  (SEQ ID NO 31)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGTGGAGGCATGGTGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGATTCATTTTCAGTCGCTATGACATGGGTTGGGTCCGCCAAACTCCAGGGAAGGGGCGCGAGTGGGTCTCAGGTATTAATTCTGGTGGTGGGCGTACATACTATGCGGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACGACGATAAGGCTACGTTGTATTTGTCAATGGACGGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCCTGTACCATTGTGTGAGATTCACCGTGAAAACGCCGCAAGGTTACTACTACCTGAACGATTTCGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCCGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATA N0. 43, Nb43 (SEQ ID NO 32) ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGATTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGAAGCGACTTCAGTATCTATCACATGGGCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAAGCAGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCAGCTATTACTAGTGGTGGTAGCACAAACTATGCAGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGTGACAACGCCAAGAACACGGTGTATCTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGTCTATTATTGTAATGCAGATGGGGTCCCCGAGTATAGCGACTATGCCTCCGGCCCGGTGTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 45, Nb45  (SEQ ID NO 33)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGTTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGTGGAGGCTTGGTGCAGGCTGGGGGGTCTCTGAGACTGTCCTGTGTGGCCTCTGGAAGTATGTTCAATTTCTATGGCATGGCCTGGTACCGGCAGGCTCCAGGGAAGCAGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCATCAATTGATAGTGAGGGTAGAACGACAAACTATCCAGACTCCCTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGGGACGACGCCAAGAGCACGGCGTATCTGCAAATGAACAACCTGATTCCTGACGACACGGCCGTCTATTACTGTAATGCCTTCCGAGGGAGGATGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGAACCCAAGACACCAAAACCACAAGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG N0. 46, Nb46  (SEQ ID NO 34)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGTGGAAGGTTGGTTGCACCCGGGAGGTCTTTGAAACTCTCCCGGACCTTCTCTGGTCTCTATTTGCATTCAAGTGCCTTTGGCTGGTTTCCCCACGTTCCCAGGGAAGCGCGTGAAGGGGTTGCCTTCCTTTGTAATTCCGGTTCTGACCCAATATATTTACACCCCGAGAAGGGCATTTTCACTCTCTCCAGACACTGTGTCAAATGAACGGTTTCTCCGTTTGAGGACAACGATACTGTAGAACACACCCCTACTTATCAGTGCCCAACACATCTAG N0. 47, Nb47  (SEQ ID NO 35)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCGGGTGGAGGCAGGGTGCAGGCTGGGGGGTCTCTGACACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGAGACATCTTCACTCTCGCTTCCATGGGATGGTATCGTGAAGATCTACACAAAAAGCGCGAGTTGGTGGCCCAACTGATGAGTGATGGTACCGCGAATTATGGAGATTCCGTGAAGGGCCGAGTCACCATCTCCAGAGACGACGTCGATACCACAGTGCATCTGCGAATGAATACCCTGCAACCGTCCGACACGGGAGAATATTTTTGTTATATCCATACTTCCCGCGAAATTACCTGGGGCCGGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCCAGGGAGAGTCCTCGGCGCCTCAGTCCTCGGCGCCTCAGGCCACCGTCTCCTCGGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACC GCGTGCCGCATAGN0. 48, Nb48  (SEQ ID NO 36)ATGCAGGCCCAGCTGGCCGGTCAGTTGCAGCTCGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCCTGGTCGAAGTTGGGGAGTCTCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGTAGCACTCGGATTCACTTTGGACGGGTATGCCATTGGCTGGTTCCGCCAGGCCCCGGGGAAGGAGCGTGAGAAAATCTCATGCATTAGTAGTACTGGCGATAGTACAAATTATGATGACTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACACTGCCAAGAGCACGGTGTTTCTGCAAATGAACAACCTGATACCTGAGGACACAGCCATTTATTACTGTGGCGCAGACCTCTTGGCGCGGTGTGGTCGTGTTTGGTACTTCCCGCCCGACCTTAATTACCGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTTTCTTCAGCGCACCACAGCGAAGACCCCGGCCCCCGAGGCCTTGCGGCCGCAGGTGCGCCGGTGCCGTATCCGGATCCGCTGGAACCGCGTGCCGCATAG

2) Amino Acid Sequence Listing:

(1) Nb1 (SEQ ID NO 37)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLKLSCT ASETTFEIYP MAWYRQAPGK QRELVAGINM 61 ISSTKYIDSV KGRFTISRDN DKNTMYLQMN SLKPEDTAVY YCNLDTTMVE GVEYWGQGTQ121 VTVSSAHHSE DPGPRGLAAA GAPVPYPDPL EPRAA (2) Nb2 (SEQ ID NO 38)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MSWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYSADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLVGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (3) Nb3 (SEQ ID NO 39)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTFNNYG MSWVRQAPGK GLEWISSIYS 61 NGHTYSADSV KGRFTISRDN ANNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTANY YCKLVGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPNTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA AYTVESCLA (4) Nb4 (SEQ ID NO 40)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MSWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYSADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLVGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (6) Nb6 (SEQ ID NO 41)  1 LQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTVYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (7) Nb7 (SEQ ID NO 42)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTVYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (8) Nb8 (SEQ ID NO 43)  1 AGQLQLVESG GGLVQPGGSL MLSCVVSGVT ISNYGMTWVR QAPGKGLEWI STIYSNGHTY 61 YADSVKGRFT ASRDNAKNTL YLQMNSLKPE DTAKYYCKLT GETHRGQGTQ VTVSSEPKTP121 KPQGPRGLAA AGAPVPYPDP LEPRAA (9) Nb9 (SEQ ID NO 44)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCT ASEFTLDYHS IGWFRQAPGK EREGVSCISY 61 GDGTTFYTDS VKGRFTISRD NAKNTVTLQM NSLKPEDTAV YYCAASPGRL LLFRLCMSED121 EYDFWGQGTQ VTVSSEPKTP KPQGPRGLAA AGAPVPYPDP LEPRAA (11) Nb11(SEQ ID NO 45)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTFNNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYYADFV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMI SLKPEDTAKY YCRLTGETYR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTRKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (12) Nb12 (SEQ ID NO 46)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLMLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTASRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (13) Nb13 (SEQ ID NO 47)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCA ASGIILNFYG MGWDRQTPGQ GLEGVSYVNN 61 NGMTNYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTMYLQMN SLKPEDTADY YCNVSAYTYR SNYYYPWGQA121 NHVTVSSQRK TRKAQGRARL ADAGAPVPHA DQMEQRAS (16) Nb161 (SEQ ID NO 48)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTVYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (17) Nb17 (SEQ ID NO 49)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MSWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYSADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLVGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (18) Nb18 (SEQ ID NO 50)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLMLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTASRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (19) Nb19 (SEQ ID NO 51)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCT ASEFTLDYHS IGWFRQAPGK EREGVSCISY 61 GDGTTFYTDS VKGRFTISRD NAKNTVTLQM NSLKPEDTAV YYCAASPGRL LLFRLCMSED121 EYDFWGQGTQ VTVSSEPKTP KPQGPRGLAA AGAPVPYPDP LEPRAA (20) Nb20(SEQ ID NO 52)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLMLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTIYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTASRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (22) Nb22 (SEQ ID NO 53)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCA ASGRAFSVYA VGWYRQPPGK QRELVASITD 61 GGSTNYADSV KGRFTVSRDN ARNTAYLDMN SLKVEDTAVY YCNANYGGSV LYNYWGPGTQ121 VTVSTEPKTP KPQGPRGLAA AGAPVPYPDP LEPRAA (25) Nb25 (SEQ ID NO 54)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCV VSGVTISNYG MTWVRQAPGK GLEWISTVYS 61 NGHTYYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTLYLQMN SLKPEDTAKY YCKLTGETHR GQGTQVTVSS121 EPKTPKPQGP RGLAAAGAPV PYPDPLEPRA A (27) Nb27 (SEQ ID NO 55)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCE VSGSRGSIYF SGWYRQAPGK QRELVASITS 61 GGTTNYADSV KGRFTISRDN AKNTVYLQMN SLKPEDTAVY YCNIGRYGLG GSWGQGTQVT121 VSSEPKTPKP QGPRGLAAAG APVPYPDPLE PRAA (28) Nb28 (SEQ ID NO 56)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCE ASGFTFDDYA IGWFRQAPGK EREEVSCISH 61 NGGTTNYADS VKGRFSISRD NAKNTVYLQM NGLKPEDTAN YYCAGARSGL CVFFELQDYD121 YWGQGTQVTV SSAHHSEDPG PRGLAAAGAP VPYPDPLEPR AA (29) Nb29(SEQ ID NO 57)  1 MQAQPAVLAA LLQGVQAQVK LVESGGGSVQ AGGSLRLSCT ASGSDYRWMY IARFRQCPGK 61 EREGVAAIYT DDTDDSSPIY ATSAKGRFTI SQDKDKNAVY LQMNSPKPED TAMYYCAARA121 FGGTWSLSSP DDFSAWGQGT QVTVSSGTNE VCKWPPRPCG RRCAGAVSGS AGTACRID(32) Nb32 (SEQ ID NO 58)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCT ASKFHLDSYA VAWFRQTPGK EREAVSFINT 61 SDDVTYFADS VKGRFTISRD NSKNTVYLQM NVLKPEDTSV YVCAAVRSPG PTGPSMQPMW121 SVPDLYDYWG QGTQVTVSSA HHSEDPGPRG LAAAGAPVPY PDPLEPRAA (34) Nb34(SEQ ID NO 59)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGTVQ PGGSLNLSCV TSGFTFSRHD MSWVRQAPGK GPEWISGIGT 61 SGTSGRYASS VKGRFTISRD NAKDTLYLQM DSLKPEDTGL YYCTTGGVYS AYVQPRGKGT121 QVTVSSAHHS EDPGPRGLAA AGAPVPYPDP LEPRAA (36) Nb36 (SEQ ID NO 60)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ PGGSLRLSCA ASGRAFSVYA VGWYRQIPGN QREMVAAISS 61 GGNTKYSDSV KGRFTVSSEP KTPKPQGPRG LAAAGAPVPY PDPLEPRAA (38) Nb38(SEQ ID NO 61)  1 MQAQPAVLAA LLQGVQAQVK LVESGGGSVQ AGGSLRLSCT ASGSDYRWMY IARFRQCPGK 61 EREGVAAIYT DDTDDSSPIY ATSAKGRFTI SQDKDKNAVY LQMNSPKPED TAMYYCAARA121 FGGTWSLSSP DDFSAWGQGT QVTVSSGTNE VCKWPPRPCG RRCAGAVSGS AGTACRIDC(41) Nb41 (SEQ ID NO 62)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGMVQ PGGSLRLSCA ASGFIFSRYD MGWVRQTPGK GREWVSGINS 61 GGGRTYYADS VKGRFTISRD DDKATLYLSM DGLKPEDTAL YHCVRFTVKT PQGYYYLNDF121 DYWGQGTQVT VSSEPKTPKP QGPRGLAAAG APVPYPDPLE PRAA (43) Nb43(SEQ ID NO 63)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVQ IGGSLRLSCA ASGSDFSIYH MGWYRQAPGK QRELVAAITS 61 GGSTNYADSV KGRFTISSDN AKNTVYLQMN SLKPEDTAVY YCNADGVPEY SDYASGPVYW121 GQGTQVTVSS AHHSEDPGPR GLAAAGAPVP YPDPLEPRAA (45) Nb45 (SEQ ID NO 64)  1 MQAQLAVQLQ LVESGGGLVQ AGGSLRLSCV ASGSMFNFYG MAWYRQAPGK QRELVASIDS 61 EGRTTNYPDS LKGRFTISRD DAKSTAYLQM NNLIPDDTAV YYCNAFRGRM YDYWGQGTQV121 TVSSEPKTPK PQGPRGLAAA GAPVPYPDPL EPRAA (46) Nb46 (SEQ ID NO 65)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGRLVA PGRSLKLSRT FSGLYLHSSA FGWFPHVPRE AREGVAFLCN 61 SGSDPIYLHP EKGIFTLSRH CVKTVSPFED NDTVEHTPTY QCPTHLVITH PCICIPSAMD121 YRGKGTLVPL SSKPTTPKPR APKALRPQVP RCRIRFR (47) Nb47 (SEQ ID NO 66)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGRVQ AGGSLTLSCA ASGDIFTLAS MGWYREDLHK KRELVAQLMS 61 DGTANYGDSV KGRVTISRDD VDTTVHLRMN TLQPSDTGEY FCYIHTSREI TWGRGTQVTV121 SQGESSAPQS SAPQATVSSA HHSEDPGPRG LAAAGAPVPY PDPLEPRAA (48) Nb48(SEQ ID NO 67)  1 MQAQLAGQLQ LVESGGGLVE VGESLRLSCV ALGFTLDGYA IGWFRQAPGK EREKISCISS 61 TGDSTNYDDS VKGRFTISRD TAKSTVFLQM NNLIPEDTAI YYCGADLLAR CGRVWYFPPD121 LNYRGQGTQV TVSSAHHSED PGPRGLAAAG APVPYPDPLE PRAA

SEQ ID NOs 6 to 36 correspond with SEQ ID NOs 37 to 67, respectively.

Example 6 Testing of rSPA-Nb's Lung-Specificity

To further verify the affinity between rSPA-Nb and rat pulmonarysurfactant protein A (rSPA), and whether rSPA-Nb has lung-specificity,Western blot and ELISA were used to preliminarily measure the antigenspecificity of rSPA-Nb, and immunohistochemistry and in vivo imagingwere used to verify its lung-specificity in vivo.

6.1 Western Blot and ELISA

Monoclonal antibody against His was chosen as the primary antibody totest the affinity between of purified rSPA-Nb and rSPA using Westernblot and ELISA (using the same method described in section 1.2). Theresults showed that Nb6 and Nb17 had significant binding specificitywith rSPA (FIG. 5A, B).

6.2 Immunohistochemistry

Fresh tissues from the lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle of ratwere fixed and sliced, and diluted primary antibody (Nb6, Nb17 for theexperimental groups, SPA polyclonal antibody (SPA-poly-ant) as apositive control group, and Alliinase as a negative control group) wasdropped on. The secondary antibody was HIS-IgG-HRP. The results showedthat Nb6, Nb17, and SPA polyclonal antibody (SPA-poly-ant) hadsignificant binding effect with rat lung tissue (shown as brown). Thebinding effect of Nb17 was similar to that of SPA-poly-ant, while Nb6had weaker binding effect than Nb17, as there is differences in theamino acid sequence at the antigen binding region between these two. Allthree antibodies had no obvious binding effect with rat heart, liver,spleen, kidney, muscle tissues, nor had the negative control group (FIG.6).

6.3 In Vivo Lung-Specificity Testing Using FITC-Marked Nanobody in Mice

Sequence homology analysis showed that there is a high degree ofhomology between the amino acid sequence of rat and mouse rSPA. Since itis easier to obtain in vivo imaging using nude mice, nude mice werechosen for testing specificity in vivo. Two-week-old nude mice werechosen, and after intraperitoneal anesthesia, 10 ul FITC-labelednanobody was injected intravenously at the tail, and the dose was 1mg/kg of the animal body weight. The nude mice were imaged at 15minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 5 hours after the injection,respectively. At the same time, nasal inhalation was administrated tothe positive control group was (FIG. 7). The results showed that 0.5hours after intravenous injection, the FITC-labeled nanobody began toclearly cluster in the lung. 5 hours after the injection, the clusteringin the lung was still obvious, and the lung-targeting effect was similarto that of the nasal inhalation.

The above experiment was repeated using the functional region of thepolypeptides of synthetic Nb6 and Nb17 (without the MQAQKAG portion). Itwas found that the synthetic polypeptides also binds to rSPA withspecificity, and are clustered around the lung in in vivo testing.

Example 7 Clone Protein Expression and Targeting Detection

Sequence homology comparative analysis was conducted on the selected 31sequences, and it was found that Nb16, Nb25, Nb7, and Nb6 had highsequence similarity; Nb17, NB4 and NB2 had the same polypeptidesequence; Nb20, Nb18, Nb12, Nb8 had high sequence similarity; while therest of the sequences were quite different.

To further verify that the 31 nanobody sequences exhibits lung-targetingaffinity with SP-A, 21 clones (excluding those with the same sequence asNb17) were expressed and purified in accordance with the methoddescribed in Examples 5 and 6. Soluble expressions of these nanobodieswere obtained, where Nb1 has the least protein expression concentrationof 3 mg/L, while the rest of nanobodies have an average proteinexpression concentration of 8 mg/L.

In Western blot and ELISA, affinity was clearly shown in all 21proteins, and the OD450 value in ELISA for 7 nanobodies, namely Nb9,Nb11, Nb18, Nb19, Nb36, Nb32, and Nb48, was 5 times greater than that ofthe negative control group. Immunohistochemical staining showed thatthese clones had strong affinity. All clones showed significantdifferences with the negative control group.

In vivo specificity testing in mice showed that seven nanobodies, namelyNb9, NB11, NB18, NB19, Nb36, NB32, and Nb48, had specificity similar tothat of Nb17; while there were variations in the clustering effect, allthe images exhibited obvious clustering in the lung.

8. rSPA-Nb Construct or Fusion Protein

The rSPA-Nb disclosed above can be linked to a one therapeutic moiety toform a construct or fusion protein that specifically binds to SP-A.Thus, in another aspect, the invention relates to a method for theprevention and/or treatment of lung disease or disorder that can beprevented or treated by the use of a fusion protein or construct asdescribed herein, which method comprises administering, to a subject inneed thereof, a pharmaceutically active amount of a fusion protein orconstruct of the invention, and/or of a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the same. The diseases and disorders that can be prevented ortreated by the use of a fusion protein or construct as described hereinwill generally be the same as the diseases and disorders that can beprevented or treated by the use of the therapeutic moiety that ispresent in the fusion protein or construct of the invention.

The therapeutic moiety can be an immunoglobulin sequence or a fragmentthereof. The therapeutic moiety can also be a single domain antibody oran immunoglobulin variable domain sequence. The therapeutic moiety canalso be a drug that is effective for treating lung-related diseases. Thetherapeutic moiety can be directly linked to the rSPA-Nb, or there couldbe a spacer between the therapeutic moiety and the rSPA-Nb. Nanobodiesare very small antibodies molecule with intact antigen-binding ability.Their high stability and solubility, ability to bind epitopes notaccessible to conventional antibodies, and rapid tissue penetration makethem particular suitable as a target ligand.

Glucocorticoids are considered the most effective anti-inflammatory drugfor chronic inflammatory and immune diseases, which are widely used inmany pulmonary conditions. such as in asthma, croup(Laryngotracheobronchitis), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS),allergic bronchopulmonaryaspergillosis, interstitial lung disease,hemangioma of trachea, and pulmonary eosinophilic disorders.Glucocorticoids are also used empirically to treat some otherconditions, such as idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, bronchiolitis,hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hyperplasia of thymus, bronchiolitis,acute respiratory distress syndrome, aspiration syndromes, atypicalpneumonias, laryngeal diphtheria, AIDS, SARS, and sarcoidosis. However,conventional steroids dosage forms are associated with significantadverse effects because of their indiscriminately targeting effects, andthe long-term use of high doses of glucocorticoids may lead to sideeffects such as infection, bleeding, hyperglycemia and ulcers, whichlimits its clinical application. Hence, there is a need for moreefficacious lung-targeting glucocorticoids drug delivery systems.

SP-A nanobodies (SPANbs) can be used as the ligand to prepare activetargeting SPA-DXM-NLP to improve treatment efficiency, reduce thesystemic side effects, and provide a new method for clinicalapplications of glucocorticoids.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) Poly lactic acid (PLA) has beenwidely used for the encapsulation and sustained delivery of drugsbecause it is biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic,non-immunogenicity, non-carcinogenicity. It is also helpful incontrolling the rate of drug release and enhancing drug stability, andis suitable for large scale production. Thus, it can be used as acarrier for SPA-DXM-NLP.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a SP-Atargeting immunonanoliposome was provided, the immunonanoliposomecomprises a nanobody against SP-A, a therapeutic moiety, and ananoliposome, wherein the therapeutic moiety is glucocorticoid. In apreferred embodiment, the therapeutic moiety is dexamethasone sodiumphosphate (DXM). The immunonanoliposome has lung-targeting specificitybecause of the presence of the nanobody against SP-A. The nanoliposomemay comprise phospholipids, cholesterol and a liposomes excipient. Theliposomes excipients may be distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 (DSPE-PEG2000) and distearoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000-pyridyl-associatedmercapto-propionate (DSPE-PEG2000-PDP). The phospholipid may be soybeanlecithin (SPC), egg yolk lecithin (EPC), and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The therapeutic moisty may be hydrocortisone,prednisolone, and methylprednisolone.

In the context of the present invention, the term “prevention and/ortreatment” not only comprises preventing and/or treating the disease,but also generally comprises preventing the onset of the disease,slowing or reversing the progress of disease, preventing or slowing theonset of one or more symptoms associated with the disease, reducingand/or alleviating one or more symptoms associated with the disease,reducing the severity and/or the duration of the disease and/or of anysymptoms associated therewith and/or preventing a further increase inthe severity of the disease and/or of any symptoms associated therewith,preventing, reducing or reversing any physiological damage caused by thedisease, and generally any pharmacological action that is beneficial tothe patient being treated.

The subject to be treated may be any warm-blooded animal, but is inparticular a mammal, and more in particular a human being. As will beclear to the skilled person, the subject to be treated will inparticular be a person suffering from, or at risk from, the diseases anddisorders mentioned herein.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method forimmunotherapy, and in particular for passive immunotherapy, which methodcomprises administering, to a subject suffering from or at risk of thediseases and disorders mentioned herein, a pharmaceutically activeamount of a fusion protein or construct of the invention, and/or of apharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

The fusion protein or construct and/or the compositions comprising thesame are administered according to a regime of treatment that issuitable for preventing and/or treating the disease or disorder to beprevented or treated. The clinician will generally be able to determinea suitable treatment regimen, depending on factors such as the diseaseor disorder to be prevented or treated, the severity of the disease tobe treated and/or the severity of the symptoms thereof, the specificnanobody of the invention to be used, the specific route ofadministration and pharmaceutical formulation or composition to be used,the age, gender, weight, diet, general condition of the patient, andsimilar factors well known to the clinician.

Generally, the treatment regimen will comprise the administration of oneor more fusion proteins or constructs of the invention, or of one ormore compositions comprising the same, in one or more pharmaceuticallyeffective amounts or doses. The specific amount(s) or doses toadminister can be determined by the clinician, again based on thefactors cited above.

Generally, for the prevention and/or treatment of the diseases anddisorders mentioned herein and depending on the specific disease ordisorder to be treated, the potency and/or the half-life of the specificfusion proteins or constructs to be used, the specific route ofadministration and the specific pharmaceutical formulation orcomposition used. The clinician will generally be able to determine asuitable daily dose, depending on the factors mentioned herein. It willalso be clear that in specific cases, the clinician may choose todeviate from these amounts, for example on the basis of the factorscited above and his expert judgment. Generally, some guidance on theamounts to be administered can be obtained from the amounts usuallyadministered for comparable conventional antibodies or antibodyfragments against the same target administered via essentially the sameroute, taking into account however differences in affinity/avidity,efficacy, biodistribution, half-life and similar factors well known tothe skilled person.

Usually, in the above method, a single nanobody of the invention will beused. It is however within the scope of the invention to use two or moreNanobodies of the invention in combination.

The effectiveness of the treatment regimen used according to theinvention may be determined and/or followed in any manner known per sefor the disease or disorder involved, as will be clear to the clinician.The clinician will also be able, where appropriate and or a case-by-casebasis, to change or modify a particular treatment regimen, so as toachieve the desired therapeutic effect, to avoid, limit or reduceunwanted side-effects, and/or to achieve an appropriate balance betweenachieving the desired therapeutic effect on the one hand and avoiding,limiting or reducing undesired side effects on the other hand.

Generally, the treatment regimen will be followed until the desiredtherapeutic effect is achieved and/or for as long as the desiredtherapeutic effect is to be maintained. Again, this can be determined bythe clinician.

The subject to be treated may be any warm-blooded animal, but is inparticular a mammal, and more in particular a human being. As will beclear to the skilled person, the subject to be treated will inparticular be a person suffering from, or at risk from, the diseases anddisorders mentioned herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An isolated nanobody selected from thegroup consisting of an amino acid sequence comprising any of SEQ ID NOs37 to
 67. 2. An isolated amino acid sequence that binds to pulmonarysurfactant protein A (SP-A), wherein the amino acid sequence comprisesany of SEQ ID NOs 37 to
 67. 3. The amino acid sequence of claim 2,wherein the amino acid sequence is an antibody.
 4. The amino acidsequence of claim 2, wherein the amino acid sequence is a nanobody.
 5. ASP-A targeting immunonanoliposome, comprising any one of the nanabodiesof claim 4, a therapeutic moiety, and a nanoliposome, wherein thetherapeutic moiety is glucocorticoid.
 6. The immunonanoliposome of claim5, wherein the therapeutic moiety is dexamethasone sodium phosphate(DXM).
 7. The immunonanoliposome of claim 5, wherein the nanoliposomecomprises phospholipid, cholesterol and a liposomes excipient.
 8. Theimmunonanoliposome of claim 7, wherein the liposomes excipient isselected from a group consisting of distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 (DSPE-PEG2000) and distearoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000-pyridyl-associatedmercapto-propionate (DSPE-PEG2000-PDP).
 9. The immunonanoliposome ofclaim 7, wherein the phospholipid is selected from a group consisting ofsoybean lecithin (SPC), egg yolk lecithin (EPC), and dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline (DPPC).
 10. The immunonanoliposome of claim 5,wherein the therapeutic moiety is selected from a group consisting ofhydrocortisone, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone.
 11. The nanobodyof claim 1, wherein the nanobody binds to pulmonary surfactant protein A(SP-A), and wherein the nanobody has a molecule weight of 17 Kd.
 12. ASP-A targeting immunonanoliposome, comprising the nanobody of claim 11,dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DXM), and a nanoliposome.